If I could ask you all for a prayer for a good friend of mine, who passed away over the weekend.

He was a fellow wine lover who taught me how complex and complete Californian wines from pre-1985 could be. He shared endless bottles from the 70's and 80's, each one better than the next, and left a left bank advocate with his jaw rather unhinged. Many notes of wines as a result of our imbuing are in these pages.

He valiantly fought with stage IV cancer and had such a long outlook on life still. I will genuinely miss you old friend. I will never forget things that you taught me and never be able to replicate the generosity and positivity that defined you.